How do I keep my analog meter

juliapascal

My neighbours have analog meters as I do in small council flats. But Octopus is insisting that mine is not working, even though they have nor seen it. They keep sending me bills for thousands of pounds from my readings and photos and say the meter is difficult to read. I suspect this is part of the push to force us all to get smart meters which I don't want. This is blackmail and I know that legally they cannot force me to get a smart meter. Would a change of supplier resolve this? I doubt that there is a fault and feel that it is just pressure. The others in my block have also lived here 30 years and are not being forced to do this. Please advise.

Ayr_Rage

They legally can get a warrant to replace their meter if you continue to refuse to cooperate and it will be a smart meter.

If the current meters are as old as the building they will all be coming to the end of their certified life and will be replaced.

Spoonie_Turtle

They are your supplier and own the meter, so ultimately yes they can force you. The same will happen if you change supplier.

Are they saying it's not working or are they saying it's reached the end of its certification (they might be saying it's at the end of its life)? You can find your meter on this list, find the certification date on your meter, and see how long is left or whether it's already out of date. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-approved-electricity-meters

Or when you have enough posts, post a photo here and one of us can find it for you.

Edit: also if you have doubts about your bills, members here can probably help as well.

TroubledTarts

A smart meter seems to be the least of your issues, you said

They keep sending me bills for thousands of pounds from my readings and photos and say the meter is difficult to read

I would get to the bottom of your billing issue first before worrying about a smart meter.

Lots of people would be willing to help here if you can share some information such as the reading when you moved in and the reading nowz how long you have lived there. How much you have been paying etc

GrubbyGirl_2

I am curious as to why you don't want a smart meter? What exactly concerns you?

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675866/how-do-i-keep-my-analog-meter

Firstly it is not your meter - its the responsibility of the supplier to maintain it.

octopus are legally obliged to replace any suspect faulty meter.

and you admit your struggling to read the old analogue one so why keep it ?

and that will be with smart - they simply wont have any other meters these days.

and if analogue you could be end of life anyway - in which case Ofgem have mandated they fit smart.

Ofgem are the govt - they set the rules suppliers operate under -the govt has set tgem a mandatory target to roll out smart - one that is now yesrs behind original iirc c95% by 2019.

my older sister didnt want the upheaval or visit during covid - but she no longer has to struggle to read a ceiling level meter (she needed steps and has worsening arthritis so dangerous) - and her supplier now gives her 8 hrs half price electric a week "for free" on their standard svt tariff - just because she has a smart meter and signed up to deal and reporting half hourly use.

And it opens up potential far larger savings at other suppliers too.

Is your meter in flat or communal meter cupboard ?

You might be most would say "unlucky" and end up with a non communicating meter - so just a digital meter with a nice clean digital display to read.

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675866/how-do-i-keep-my-analog-meter

Read the contract you "signed" when joining Octopus - You will find a section where you agreed to having a smart meter fitted. The same paragraph is in all domestic supply contracts, so you don't get a choice in the matter.

QrizB

Read the contract you "signed" when joining Octopus - You will find a section where you agreed to having a smart meter fitted.

It's in Section 16, "Access and Smart Meters".

https://octopus.energy/quote/terms-and-conditions/

elsien

You do need to sort your bills out before doing anything, because if they are saying you owe thousands of pounds that is unlikely to be correct, but if you are showing as being in debt, you won’t be able to move to another provider anyway.

flaneurs_lobster

….or you can just let them fit a smart meter.

booneruk

Found this here: https://octopus.energy/blog/meter-certification-date/